Mac Pro Intel Xeon and Apple Monitor LED 24"

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Level 1

69 points

Mac Pro Intel Xeon and Apple Monitor LED 24"

Hi out there,

can anyone help !

I have an older Mac Pro Intel Xeon, the one with Firewire 800 and 400. I also have a newer Apple monitor, the one just with Mini Firewire ( 24" ) . At present I connect my Macbook Pro to it ( it's the one with Mini FW, Power & USB ).

Does anyone have any idea how I may attach my older Mac Pro to this monitor, using any type or types of adpaters etc

Is it possible to do ?

I would really like to be able to connect both, perhaps even by DVI from MPro and something in between to Monitor !!

Any suggestions would be most grateful.

Steve ( UK )

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.1), Intel iMac & MB Pro 13" SSD

Posted on Dec 11, 2012 11:16 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 11, 2012 4:54 PM in response to golf king

What graphics card is in your Mac Pro?

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Answer 2

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Dec 11, 2012 5:00 PM in response to golf king

What is mini firewire? never heard of one.

I think you have the newest Thunderbolt displays, and there is no card, no support, no way.

No GPU.

Thunder is a feature of newer logicboard.

Sometimes it helps to be detail specific or better yet a link to the product page.

And support page articles.

www.apple.com/support/

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Answer 3

golf king Author

Level 1

69 points

Dec 12, 2012 2:56 AM in response to Malcolm J. Rayfield

Hi Malcolm,

here is the full spec'

Mac Pro;

2 x 3 GHz Quad - Core Intel Xeon

20 Bg 667 MHz DDR2

NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT, 256 MB

And I have a;

24" Apple Cinema LED Monitor

This not the very latest but the one before, it has the Thick cable coming from the back that splits into 3, mag' power cable, USB and Thunderbolt ( I called it the mini firewire, sorry ).

Is it possible to connect the 2, do i need a better Graphic's card , what ever.

Thanks

Steve

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Answer 4

golf king Author

Level 1

69 points

Dec 12, 2012 3:54 AM in response to The hatter

Hi Hatter I got things a little wrong, here is the Full Spec' of said equipment I have and like to try and use together if at all possible.

Mac Pro;

2 x 3 GHz Quad - Core Intel Xeon

20 Bg 667 MHz DDR2

NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT, 256 MB

And I have a;

24" Apple Cinema LED Monitor

This not the very latest but the one before, it has the Thick cable coming from the back that splits into 3, mag' power cable, USB and Thunderbolt ( I called it the mini firewire, sorry ).

Is it possible to connect the 2, do i need a better Graphic's card , what ever.

Thanks

Steve

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Answer 5

Dec 12, 2012 7:32 AM in response to golf king

The Apple 24" Cinema LED display has a Mini DisplayPort input cable, not ThunderBolt.

So it CAN be connected, you are not completely screwed.

The best solution is to upgrade your 7300 graphics card (that has a Dual-Link DVI and a single-Link DVI) to the Apple-firmware 5770 graphics card (that has a Dual-Link DVI and two of those Mini DisplayPorts on it) and be sure you are running at least 10.6.5. It runs about US$250 and will give you a dramatic graphics improvement. Works in all Mac Pros despite Apples reluctance to test and certify it in the earlier models, where it runs slightly slower due to PCIe 1 slots.

For "no-fuss" operation, be sure to buy the Apple-firmware card, not a generic PC card.

An alternative solution is to buy an Atlona stunt-box to convert Dual-Link DVI to Mini DisplayPort. When you Upgrade, this expensive (about US$100) stunt-box will be a throw-away.

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Answer 6

golf king Author

Level 1

69 points

Dec 12, 2012 7:50 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Many thanks Grant,

just a quick question so I know I'm not a complete muppet.

Why does the Thunderbolt cable connection look just the same as a mini port connection ?

Or am I just stupid ( I am getting old )

My Shiny Apple LED monitor looks like a new iMac but without the working parts, Black edging.

I will see if I can get the Atlona first and have a look at it ( I live in the UK, across the water )

Just a bit twichy.

Steve

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Answer 7

golf king Author

Level 1

69 points

Dec 12, 2012 8:17 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hi Grant again ;-)

Just a quick question, would this the sort of thing you are talking about to convert, See link

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cable-Matters-Plated-Premium-DisplayPort/dp/B004CAHTCQ/r ef=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355328112&sr=8-1

Steve

PS: Forget this one, got excited then realised afterwards it's the wrong end :-(

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Answer 8

Dec 12, 2012 10:26 AM in response to golf king

Why does the Thunderbolt cable connection look just the same as a mini port connection ?

So that you can plug your Mini Displayport displays directly into a ThunderBolt port and have them work without adapters. Nice feature, eh?

NONE of these sort of adapters are reversible -- thy provide conversions only in one direction, and do not work at all the other direction.

The increaed perormance from simply replacing your existing 7300 display card with a 5770 will be noticeable.

But to complete your "due dilligence, this is the adfapter you would need:

http://www.atlona.com/Atlona-Dual-Link-DVI-to-Mini-DisplayPort-Converter-USB-Pow ered.html

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Answer 9

golf king Author

Level 1

69 points

Dec 12, 2012 11:14 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hi Grant,

many thanks for this info' already on the look out for things, I can get the 5770 for £182 ( what ever that is in Dollars ) and found the Atlona but very differcult to get over here, can get one from Amazon US but the Postage is more than the item itself.

I will not give up now I know there is a way and hope.

Thanks again

Steve

PS: Merry Xmas and a Happy New year

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Answer 10

Dec 12, 2012 1:26 PM in response to golf king

For "no fuss" installation, be sure you are getting a 5770 with Apple firmware.

A PC card will not light up under Mac OS X.

A PC card flashed with Apple firmware will not allow you to boot easily from alternate sources because it will not light up until the login screen.

US$250 is about £154 Sterling, so that is likley to be the Apple card. (plus 17% VAT and it is spot on.)

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